Opening today at the Guggenheim is the major retrospective of American sculpture artist John Chamberlain, who died in December last year. As I wound my way around the gallery, I could see the clear developments in scale and technique that spanned Chamberlain's 60-year career.
Early sculptures demonstrate his ability to wrangle discarded materials from sidewalks and junkyards into intricate shapes and squiggly forms. And while Chamberlain’s preoccupation with three-dimensional abstract expressionism remained, his access to more imposing materials permitted his imagination and skill to run ballistic. It was during the last 30 years of his career that he executed such sculptures, for example, shredding the tops of vans into long ribbons, which were then rolled into rosettes. A lot of diverse work and detail to see here; my advice is to appreciate each eccentric fold of the sculptures from every standpoint.
Through May 13, 2012.
SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
1071 5th Ave
New York, NY, 10128
MAP
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Early sculptures demonstrate his ability to wrangle discarded materials from sidewalks and junkyards into intricate shapes and squiggly forms. And while Chamberlain’s preoccupation with three-dimensional abstract expressionism remained, his access to more imposing materials permitted his imagination and skill to run ballistic. It was during the last 30 years of his career that he executed such sculptures, for example, shredding the tops of vans into long ribbons, which were then rolled into rosettes. A lot of diverse work and detail to see here; my advice is to appreciate each eccentric fold of the sculptures from every standpoint.
Through May 13, 2012.
SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
1071 5th Ave
New York, NY, 10128
MAP
